NIST Special Publication (SP) 800 Series

Widely recognized as the gold standard in information security, the NIST Special Publication series offers valuable insights for the computer security community, providing a comprehensive set of safeguards to protect organizational operations, data, and individual privacy. 

This collection includes guidelines, recommendations, technical specifications, and annual reports highlighting NIST’s ongoing cybersecurity efforts and advancements, which we’ll explore in more detail below.

Application of the NIST 800 Series

While they may not hold any data regarding that particular aspect, specific criteria must be met when it comes to computer network security. The NIST 800 publications provide a baseline on how government and private organizations should administer their network security posture, including their security policies.

Individual publications related to the series tie into different aspects of the cyber defense domain. Even though private organizations aren't necessarily aware this particular series exists in the first place, they already implement many of the standards contained therein as part of their business practices. Details contained in the NIST 800 references include, but are not limited to:

• Developing a Cybersecurity Workforce – Establishing training, certification, and workforce development initiatives to build skilled security teams.
  
  
• Email Cryptography and Protection – Implementing encryption and authentication measures to secure email communications against phishing and spoofing attacks.
  
  
• Risk Management Framework (RMF) Implementation – Providing structured guidelines for identifying, assessing, and mitigating cybersecurity risks.
  
  
• Incident Response and Recovery – Outlining procedures for detecting, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents.
  
  
• Cloud Security and Compliance – Addressing best practices for securing cloud environments and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
  
  
• Cryptographic Standards and Secure Communications – Offering specifications for encryption protocols and secure data transmission.
  
  
• Third-Party Vendor Risk – Providing guidelines for securing connected devices and mitigating supply chain vulnerabilities.

NIST 800-53

NIST 800-53 is a unique publication that contains an index of privacy and security controls for information systems except for networks that handle national security. The publication underwent several revisions over the past three decades due to NIST's partnership with the Department of Defense, and civil and intelligence agencies. The latest iteration of this publication is Revision 5, which covers some of the following:

• Privacy controls being fully integrated with security controls, creating a unified standard of controls for organizations and networked systems
• Eliminating the term 'information system' and applying the word 'system,' meaning that the controls can be used to any system that deals with data: such as industrial systems, IoT devices, cyber-physical systems, and so forth
• Tying in new practice controls based on attacks gathered by empirical data and threat intel assessments
• De-emphasizing the federal aspect to encourage adoption by organizations outside of the federal government

Revision 5 was on hold due to disagreements between U.S. federal agencies. It is currently available for public dissemination as of September 2020.

Revision 4, released in 2012, emphasizes specific subject areas, including but not limited to:

• Insider threats
• Privacy
• Cross-domain solutions
• Advanced persistent threats
• Software and web application security
• Social networks, cloud computing, and mobile devices

There are many control families listed under this specific revision, including:

• AC – Access Control
• CM – Configuration Management
• IA – Identification and Authentication
• MP – Media Protection
• PS – Personnel Security
• AC – Access Control
• RA – Risk Assessment
• PE – Physical and Environmental Protection
• SI – System and Information Integrity
• SA – System and Services Acquisition
• AT – Awareness and Training

New Developments for NIST SP 800

As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, NIST is expected to refine and expand its Special Publication 800 series to address emerging challenges and strengthen security frameworks. A key area of focus will likely be the advancement of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), emphasizing continuous authentication, least privilege access, and real-time threat detection to mitigate sophisticated cyber risks. 

Financial institutions may see stricter cybersecurity regulations, with enhanced compliance requirements aimed at strengthening identity verification, fraud prevention, and transaction security. 

Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) is also expected to receive greater attention, as organizations increasingly rely on third-party vendors and global supply chains, necessitating stricter oversight, compliance mandates, and improved risk assessment methodologies. 

Additionally, updates to NIST SP 800-61 (Computer Security Incident Handling Guide) and related publications may incorporate lessons learned from recent breaches, focusing on ransomware-specific response strategies and the integration of AI-driven threat detection into incident handling procedures. 

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